Maoists blow up mobile tower in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Feb 2 (IANS) Maoist rebels blew up a tower for mobile telephony in Chatra district of Jharkhand, a police officer said Monday. More than 50 rebels belonging to Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) blew up the transmission tower of Airtel situated in Garo village of Chatra district, around 190 km from here, Sunday midnight.

Two security men posted at the cell phone transmission tower escaped from the spot, the police officer added. The tower was blasted by using detonators.

The mobile phone services have now been affected in the district. Maoist rebels targetted the tower to disrupt communication of policemen in remote areas, the officer said.

In Jharkhand, more than 13 such towers have been blown by the Maoist rebels in last three years.

Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 24 districts of Jharkhand. In the last eight seven years, more than 1,450 people have been killed in Maoist related violence.